Developed by the ČKD company for the Czechoslovakian Army in 1938. During the German occupation, the vehicle saw service in the Wehrmacht and was used in the Polish and French Campaigns, as well as on the Eastern Front. The tank saw combat on the front line until the middle of 1942. Approximately 1,400 vehicles in eight modifications (Ausf. A/B/C/D/E/F/S/G) were manufactured.

The initial order for this tank was placed in 1939. It was originally conceived as a high-speed reconaissance tank for airborne units. Mass production started at the beginning of 1942. In early 1943 two vehicles were deployed with the 1st Tank Division. Another 38 vehicles were deployed with the 58th Reserve Tank Corps in the summer of 1944.

A modification of the Type 98A Ke-Ni light tank with the Christie type suspension. Developed by Mitsubishi in 1939 under the influence of the Soviet BT-7. Only one prototype was manufactured.